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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Help us out of our girl name rut!

68 replies

Lem0ni · 31/08/2026 10:56

Please help us get out of our rut! I feel like I see the same 50 or so girls names absolutely everywhere and struggling for inspiration.

We're due number 2 in a few weeks - we think we've got a boy name, or at least a few options we both really love. But we're completely stuck on girls and seem to keep going back and forth on the same handful of names that one of us might love but the other just thinks is ok, and not something we both love (had this same girl issue with No. 1 so was fortunate he was a boy as we were sorted for his name!).

We tend to agree best on classic but underused names, I am a bit more nature inspired than him. Prefer natural/botanical, don't really like flowery names in either the floral or multi-syllable sense, no judgement at all on these names but Daphne, Aurelia, Ottilie etc just not for us).

Girls names we really like but can't seem to settle on:

Gwen - his fave, I like but don't love
Annie - a top contender as standalone, but neither of us really like any of the 'full name' options, can't decide if that matters to us
Rowan - both really like, but seems very popular, can't work out if bothered about this
Sorrel - I love, he doesn't
Briar - both like, me probably a bit more
Ivy - have always loved this but it seemed to shoot up in popularity the last 5 years
Laurel - I love, he doesn't
Lara - both like but not sold
Amber - both like but don't love

Please inspire us!

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User6761 · 31/08/2026 13:10

I like the short, less frilly flower names. I love Iris, and also like Rose, Fern and Hazel.

Other ideas -
Eira
Keira
Orla
Mairi/Mari
Iona
Tamsin
Hope
Marianne (Annie)
Ailsa

stopringingme · 31/08/2026 12:43

Willow
Aurora
Hazel
Sierra
Luna
Wren
Bellatrix
Briony
Calla
Seren
Jemima
Melissa
Sylvie
Thalia

CoffeeBeansGalore · 31/08/2026 12:41

Antonia or Adrienne for Annie?
Coralie
Cassiopeia
Cassia
Minette
Mariette
Rose
Leigh
Clarisse
Catriona
Isla
Iona
Rachael

Silverbirchleaf · 31/08/2026 12:29

I saw more Rowans a few years ago. Rose, or versions of, is the biggest local name.

Suggestion-

Jasmine
Daisy
Florence
Tansy
Tara
Marguerite
Lily
Lucy

timoteigirl · 31/08/2026 12:27

Marycontrarygarden · 31/08/2026 12:17

Briar....as in thorny bush? Why?

Briar Rose from the fairy tales, Sleeping Beauty.

ChapmanFarm · 31/08/2026 12:25

Jasmine
Flora
Calla

I like the suggestion of Cora.

Rowan can be an issue with pronunciation, especially if you have family spread across England and Scotland.

Tryagain26 · 31/08/2026 12:25

I wouldn't call her Annie it sounds too much like a diminutive, I know you said you don't like any of the formal names but like Anna isn't too different from Annie and you can still call her Annie or have you considered , Rosanne,Nanette,?
Other suggestions

Pearl
Ruby
Wren
Summer
Juno
Luna
Nova
Ivy
Opal
Fern
Elke
Cora

Marycontrarygarden · 31/08/2026 12:17

Briar....as in thorny bush? Why?

timoteigirl · 31/08/2026 12:12

Bryony
Tara
Dana
Katja/ Katya
Heather
Sage
Annina

Would Gwen be short for something like Gwendolyn / Gwendolen?
I personally don't like the meaning of amber... would you consider gemstone names such as Pearl?

allthemind · 31/08/2026 12:11

I really like Laurel and Sorrel.

Millions of Ambers here.

ToadRage · 31/08/2026 12:09

I hadn't noticed a popularity surge on Rowan. I have actually never met one though I love the name, probably cos The Wicker Man is one of my favourite films. It's one of only two on your list i do like, Amber is the other.

AustenitesUnite · 31/08/2026 12:03

If you like Annie, would you consider Rosanna? Then you have a couple of options for shortening her name, including Annie. I know you said you don't like any of the full name options but just wondered whether you have considered this one

Mosaic80 · 31/08/2026 12:02

A few suggestions:
rose
iris
fern
wren
lark
brook
hazel
flora (maybe too frilly!)
holly
olive
astrid
seren
heather
autumn
Celeste
sage

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 31/08/2026 11:55

If you don’t want anything too girly I’d rule out Annie and Ivy. It looks like Blair is the only one you can both agree on and seems to fit your style. Other names to consider

Robin.
Juno
Teagan. or Reagan.
Erin
Faye.

Ipollita · 31/08/2026 11:32

I like Briar best from your list. Gwen is awful, sorry.

Cora
Sage
Juniper nn Juni
Willow
Nora
Autumn
Rosa
Elise

user293948849167 · 31/08/2026 11:19

Gwen - don’t like, I live in Wales and would think of it as a middle aged lady name
Annie - nice, also like Anne or Anna
Rowan - I like but always think of it as a boy’s name
Sorrel - lovely
Briar - too American
Ivy - pretty
Laurel -love it, how do you feel about Lauren or Laura?
Lara - do like but also Lara Croft! Maybe Lyra?
Amber - lovely, also Ember is nice

Alternatives:

Wren
Robin
Fern
Hazel
Brook
Juniper
Saffron
Sylvie or Sylvia
Autumn

PinkRose7 · 31/08/2026 11:04

I think Amber is lovely

dbasf · 31/08/2026 11:04

Wren
Cora
Fiona
Erin
Laurel
Willow
Lyra
Reid
Rhea

I agree with you about Rowan, really lovey but there do seem to be a few about at the moment. But maybe more like 2 in your year rather than 2 in your class popular.

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